Books

First editions, first impressions, inscribed by the author in all four volumes to Edward Cadogan, with two typed letters signed and a telegram from the author. Cadogan and Churchill's ancestors, the 1st Earl Cadogan and the 1st Duke of Marlborough, fought together against Louis XIV: Churchill's great biography narrates their struggle, for which Cadogan supplied him letters and portraits. William Cadogan, 1st Earl Cadogan (1671-1726) was a close associate and confidant of the 1st Duke of Marlborough, serving him as quartermaster general, brigadier general, and chief of staff. They fought together in all the major battles of the period. Marlborough and Cadogan's relationship is extensively chronicled in Churchill's biography of the 1st Duke, a work which "took its place at once among the classics of historical writing. As the story of his ancestor's leadership of a grand alliance to prevent the domination of the continent by a single power, it was also a source of inspiration to Churchill in his campaign against appeasement" (ODNB). Edward Cadogan (1880-1962), son of the 5th Earl Cadogan, served as Conservative MP alongside Churchill from 1922 to 1945. Cadogan supplied Churchill with two portraits of his ancestor, reproduced in vol. II and III, and family letters which are cited in vol. IV. His contribution is noted in the preface of volume II, and beneath the portraits. Edward's brother Alexander was Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office from 1938 to 1946, accompanied Churchill to the Atlantic Conference and Yalta, and was at Dumbarton Oaks in 1944. Volume I: inscribed on the front free endpaper "Inscribed by Winston S. Churchill. November 1938". Mounted to the front free endpaper is a typed letter signed from Churchill. 31 October 1933. "My Dear Eddie, I am most greatly obliged to you for your letter and for what you write about the great Lord Cadogan. The letter from which you sent me an extract is of historic importance and very honourable to your ancestor. He is one of the characters who play a constant part in the drama of the war I am now narrating, and I shall be most grateful to you if you will let me have any further information which is in your possession about him". Cadogan has noted on the front free endpaper "although Winston made me a present of vols 2, 3, & 4 he omitted for some unexplained reason to give me vol. I. Having therefore purchased it myself I sent it to him to ask him for an inscription on the flyleaves. Hence the above inscription which varies from that in the remaining volumes. Edward Cadogan". Cadogan has made notes in pencil to the rear endpapers and sporadically to the text. Volume II: inscribed on the front free endpaper "To Edward Cadogan from Winston S. Churchill Oct. 21. 1934". The book was published the following day. Mounted to the front free endpaper is a telegram from Churchill, 8 November 1933: "Letters received also permission photograph many thanks Winston". Volume III: inscribed on the front free endpaper "To Edward Cadogan from Winston S. Churchill Nov. 1936". Volume IV: inscribed on the front free endpaper "To Edward Cadogan from Winston S. Churchill November 1938". Mounted to the front free endpaper is a typed letter signed from Churchill, 22 November 1938, "My dear Edward, I am ashamed to think I have omitted to send you a copy of the fourth volume of Marlborough, in which, as you will see, I have made use of one of your ancestor's letters. It was very kind of you to place these at my disposal". Provenance: Edward Cadogan; armorial bookplate to front endpapers of H. D. Moule, an Indian civil servant who owned many of Churchill's books; the collection of Steve Forbes. Four vols, large octavo. Original purple cloth, spines lettered in gilt, Marlborough crest gilt to front covers, top edges gilt. Portrait frontispiece to each vol., 99 plates, 14 facsimiles of letters, 182 maps and plans, several folding. Vols. I-III sunned as often (vol. IV less prone to fading and still bright), foxing to contents. A very good set. Cohen A97.2(I-IV).a; Langworth pp. 166-8; Woods A40(a).

Marlborough: His Life and Times is a comprehensive biography of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, written by Winston Churchill. The work details the Duke's military campaigns and personal life.